From Cradle to Cradle

"From Cradle to Cradle -Remaking the way we make things " is the theme of this book by William McDonough and Michael Braungart . Having been entranced by the idea of being responsible for a design from cradle to grave ( see entry on Bruce Mau) I decided to look at this book recommended by Simon.So far I have got to page 56 of this book and if I wasn't so determined I would feel like giving up on the ECO front .Maybe by the time I get to page 186 I will feel differently . I dont want to get so distracted by this that I end up not producing anything but feel I have to keep exploring better possibilities.

We as a species need to stop seeing money making as a priority and a measure of an individuals success . (Have just realised I am following in the footsteps of my son Jon whose MA chartered territory beyond economic crash . This quote from the website of his virtual company ARK-INK
set up in 2006 are uncannily becoming reality .

"Despite repeated warnings that we are fast approaching a point of no return, the world's governments (and ourselves) pay these issues little more then lip service"

ARK-INC offers products and services as investments in the creation of a 'post-crash' portfolio that will hold or gain value as the world of traditional economics crumbles. To supplement these investments, ARK-INC helps promote and facilitate (though its ark trust initiative) an ad-hoc self-sustaining social network known as the Ark Collective.)

In the race for economic progress we may have gone beyond the point of no return , exploiting finite resources and the environment . The fall of great civilisations have been studied in depth
the Mayans , the Roman Empire but it seems no lessons have been learned this time we are talking about the fall of the entire human race taking along with it many species of plants animals and eco systems .If we are looking for heaven then it was this planet , it was here all the time . So all I can do as a designer is to try and be responsible .
My search for eco fabrics continues but it seems that natural fibres dyed with natural dyes is not an answer :
P42 says "The natural materials to meet the needs of our current population cannot and do not exist."
It would take up too much land to grow the plants needed for the fabrics and dyes , land that we need to grow food.
"Todays industrial infrastructure is designed to chase economic growth . It does so at the expense of other vital concerns , particularly human and ecological health , cultural and natural richness and even enjoyment and delight...............the consequences of unintelligent design ."
(and greed )